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Burkina Faso has officially criminalized homosexuality following the unanimous passage of a new law by its unelected transitional government.

Some shit you should know before you dig in: If you’re unaware, many African countries have laws criminalizing homosexuality, with varying degrees of severity ranging from fines to the death penalty. As of now, over 30 out of 54 African nations maintain laws that ban same-sex sexual activity. In Uganda, one of the most extreme examples, the Anti-Homosexuality Act passed in 2023 includes provisions for life imprisonment for consensual same-sex acts and even capital punishment for what it labels as “aggravated homosexuality.” Nigeria enforces up to 14 years in prison for same-sex relationships and allows state-level Sharia courts in the north to impose the death penalty for gay sex. In contrast, a few countries, such as South Africa, Mozambique, Angola, and Botswana, have either decriminalized same-sex relations or enacted protections for LGBTQ individuals.

Getting into it: The legislation, introduced as part of Burkina Faso’s amended Persons and Family Code, imposes prison sentences ranging from two to five years and monetary fines for individuals found guilty of engaging in “homosexual practices” or related conduct. Foreign nationals who are convicted face deportation if they are repeat offenders. The law, which went into effect immediately upon passage, was adopted unanimously by the 71-member unelected transitional parliament on Monday. The parliament was established following two military coups in 2022 and remains under the control of the junta led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré.

Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala, speaking on national broadcaster RTB, stated: “If a person is a perpetrator of homosexual or similar practices, all the bizarre behavior, they will go before the judge.” He added that the law will be enforced swiftly and coupled with an awareness campaign to “popularize” the new provisions among the public. Government officials have framed the legislation as a step toward reinforcing “marriage and family values” within the country’s legal system.

The law has been met with widespread condemnation from human rights organizations. Amnesty International called the move “an alarming setback,” urging the junta to repeal the measure immediately. The organization warned that it would “create discrimination and violate the right to equality before the law.” Human Rights Watch echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the law promotes state-sanctioned discrimination and aligns Burkina Faso with a broader trend of LGBTQ+ crackdowns across Africa.